So nothing cruel or unusualhere, an eye for an eye,a tooth for a tooth,Lex talionis, as prophesied.

But this death, morelike a Macabre blunderat a public square picnichanging from days of old,when the man’s headin the too-tight hemp noosemight come clean off.

Minute after lingeringminutes, following terrible60 second minutesStrangling from the inside,a mammal gasps for breath.

Heard that his blood in thecrowd had to cover their earsand wipe their tears fromsoaked ashen faces,I say listen up, after what he did.

If you agree, show thevideo play-back to your son,so he can see what we do,Though slow suffocationis not for the squeamish,something to Hide?

Murder: premeditationand unlawful killing,the state does you one better,premeditation and ceremony.Who are we to tellthe state what to do,sounds A-OK to me.

Much ado about nothing.Throw to hungry lionscrush them with fat elephants,devoured by wild sweaty-toothed beastsdoes the trick.Tear them apart by Galloping horses,burn him like an over-cookedheadless turkey for your Thanksgiving roast,crucifixion, decapitation, boil until cooked.

Firing squad? Pass the loaded Gunplease. Stoning? A duplicitouscontest to see who casts the firststone. Disembowelment, OK,dismemberment, tie him to acannon and set the charge, so cool